Kumimanu is an extinct genus of giant penguin, which lived around 60 to 56 million years ago. The type species is K. biceae, which arose after the extinction of the non-avian dinosaurs.[1] Fossils were found in New Zealand, and the discovery was announced in December 2017.[1] A second species, Kumimanu fordycei, was named in February 2023.[2]
| Kumimanu Temporal range: Paleocene,
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| Life restoration of Kumimanu biceae | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Aves |
| Order: | Sphenisciformes Mayr, Scofield, De Pietri & Tennyson, 2017 |
| Genus: | †Kumimanu |
| Type species | |
| † Kumimanu biceae Mayr, Scofield, De Pietri & Tennyson, 2017
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| Species | |
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General information
editThe order Sphenisciformes refers to all living and extinct penguin species. In 2017 an article on one of the largest and oldest species of the order herewith discovered was published. It was discovered at Hampden Beach in the Otago region of New Zealand. This organism is named Kumimanu biceae, of which the genus name translates from Māori as "monster bird," while the specific name honours the nickname of the mother of one of the authors. Total length from the tip of the beak to tail is estimated at 177 centimeters (5.81 ft), and body mass at 101 kg (222 lbs). The genus Kumimanu contains some of the largest penguins specimens known, surpassed only by Palaeeudyptes, which reached a total length of up to 2 m (6.6 ft) and a body mass of 116 kg (256 lbs).[3] This is a particularly significant discovery because the fossil is fifty-five million years old — older than all other previously found remains of penguins which reached 'giant' sizes. Therefore, it allows scientists to better understand the evolution of penguins.[1]
Kumimanu fordycei is among the heaviest known living or extinct penguin species, with an estimated weight of 148–159.7 kg.[2] The species name honours palaeontologist Ewan Fordyce.[4]
Discovery and analysis
editThe fossils were found by a group of researchers from New Zealand in Otago, on the South Island of New Zealand. The fossils are from the Paleocene Waipara Greensand formation. The fossils were studied by a New Zealand and German team, led by Gerald Mayr of the Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum. He was the lead author of an article on the subject published online in December 2017.[1]
Kumimanu fordycei is named from a large specimen from the late Palaeocene Moeraki Formation, dating to 55.5–59.5 million years ago.[2] It was found by palaeontologist Alan Tennyson in 2017.[5]
Ecology and behavior
editKumimanu biceae lived in New Zealand, which was subtropical during much of the Paleocene era. There were many organisms in these waters including sea turtles and various fishes. K. biceae were likely similar to modern-day penguins in the way they lived. However, these “monster birds” were likely able to consume larger prey due to their size.
References
edit- ^ a b c d Mayr, Gerald; Scofield, R. Paul; De Pietri, Vanesa L.; Tennyson, Alan J. D. (12 December 2017). "A Paleocene penguin from New Zealand substantiates multiple origins of gigantism in fossil Sphenisciformes". Nature Communications. 8 (1): 1927. Bibcode:2017NatCo...8.1927M. doi:10.1038/s41467-017-01959-6. PMC 5727159. PMID 29233963.
- ^ a b c Ksepka, Daniel T.; Field, Daniel J.; Heath, Tracy A.; Pett, Walker; Thomas, Daniel B.; Giovanardi, Simone; Tennyson, Alan J. D. (8 February 2023). "Largest-known fossil penguin provides insight into the early evolution of sphenisciform body size and flipper anatomy". Journal of Paleontology. 97 (2): 434–453. Bibcode:2023JPal...97..434K. doi:10.1017/jpa.2022.88. ISSN 0022-3360. S2CID 256709376.
- ^ Acosta Hospitaleche, Carolina (2014-10-01). "New giant penguin bones from Antarctica: Systematic and paleobiological significance". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 13 (7): 555–560. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2014.03.008. ISSN 1631-0683.
- ^ Publisher, LiveNews (9 February 2023). "Paleontology powerhouse honoured by former students | LiveNews.co.nz". Live News. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Tamisiea, Jack (8 February 2023). "The Biggest Penguin That Ever Existed Was a 'Monster Bird'". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- Jadwiszczak, Piotr, et al. “Redescription Of Crossvallia Unienwillia: The Only Paleocene Antarctic Penguin.” Ameghiniana, vol. 50, no. 6, 2013, pp. 545–553., doi:10.5710/amgh.09.10.2013.1058"
- "Ancient Mega-Penguin Reached Human Height"[full citation needed]
- Malcolm Ritter: "Ancient penguin was as big as a (human) Pittsburgh Penguin", retrieved 15 December 2017. (Note: The title refers to the Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey team).